Isola: American ref helps seal Germany's fate and Mexico left sobbing with relief

Auf Wiedersehen, Germany. And if you happen to know the Spanish-to-English translation of “count your lucky stars Mexico,” go ahead and scream that one if you'd like.

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Germany's inability to score, South Korea's fighting spirit and a controversial call from the only American referee assigned by FIFA to the World Cup helped Mexico, a 3-0 loser to Sweden on Wednesday, survive and advance to the Round of 16.

Several Mexican players were sobbing afterwards, realizing that they came perilously close to elimination despite winning their first two matches.

Germany players were also crying after losing 2-0 to South Korea and becoming the third consecutive World Cup champion to bow out in Group play. If you’re scoring at home, Italy and Spain respectively were the previous two champions to be sent home early four years after lifting the trophy.

“This is something for us to reckon with,” Germany manager Joachim Low said. “This is historic. I am sure this will create some public uproar in Germany.”

Germany hadn’t been eliminated in the first round since 1938. The four-time champions dominated possession against the Koreans, who faced slim odds of advancing when the day began. Instead, South Korea were content to sit back and strike with a counterattack. With both matches being played simultaneously, Germany was aware for the last 40 minutes that a 1-0 score line would be enough.

Soccer powerhouse and defending champion Germany was eliminated in the first round for the first time since 1938. (Lee Jin-man / AP)

That goal never came even as Germany sent players forward, thus leaving themselves vulnerable in the back.

The breakthrough for South Korea, and in theory Mexico, came in the 93rd minute when Kim Young-gwon redirected an errant pass into the net from six yards out. The referee’s assistant initially ruled it offside, but referee Mark Geiger, using VAR system, overturned the call and awarded South Korea a goal.

The replay review confirmed that Toni Kroos attempted to clear a loose ball away from the front of the German goal, thus nullifying the offside.

A Germany draw would have advanced Mexico into the knockout stages, but the goal sealed the fates of both Mexico and Germany. Geiger’s call was correct, but there was no avoiding the significance of an American referee making a call that benefited Mexico.

“We just need to move on,” Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa said. “This is the World Cup. We can’t pull it out of our pocket, it’s not going to be easy and I think it’s a good lesson for what’s to come.”

El Tri will have to figure things out quickly since its next opponent is the favorite, Brazil. The round of 16 is where Mexico's World Cup usually ends. Maybe this year will be different because perhaps luck is on Mexico’s side the way Argentina and Lionel Messi were fortunate to survive and advance on Tuesday.

The Germans, however, had little luck in the tournament. Other than Kross' spectacular late goal against Sweden on Saturday, Germany ran out of answers. And now the mighty soccer power has been run out of Russia much earlier than expected.